This 1985 Spanish film reveals one of the many terrible aspects of 16th century Spain, still plagued by the radical Christian Inquisition, one of a plethora of difficulties Spaniards faced at the time. Spanish super star Carmen Maura plays a nun who agrees to a selfless scam, a fake stigmata, only to avoid separation from her lover, another nun. It’s a serious and passionate work, highlighting the theme of outspoken women-against-repression, seen in other good gay and lesbian films. This is not a lesbian “Nun sense” or another “Dark Habits” (by Almodovar, which also starred Carmen Maura, and also set in a Spanish convent, with some lesbian nuns). Perhaps, best of all, ‘Extramuros’ is realistic and frank. It isn’t shy about its characters’ sexuality. Their sexuality, and the film as a whole are genuine.
Length 118 minutes
Carmen Maura | Mercedes Sampietro | Aurora Bautista | Assumpta Serna | Antonio Ferrandis | Manuel Alexandre | Conrado San Martín | Valentín Paredes | Marta Fernández Muro | Beatriz Elorrieta | Cándida Losada | Maite Brik | Amparo Valle | Maria Caro | Mari Paz Molinero | Manuela Camacho | Pilar Coronado | Maria Jesus Hoyos | Cándida Tena | Esperanza Alonso | Diana Peñalver | María Jesús Molina | Pilar Marco | Margarita Alvez | Pilar Ordóñez | Emma Quer | Nacho Martínez | Félix Dafauce | Fernando Cebrián | Sergio Mendizábal | Julio Gavilanes | María Elena Flores | Lola Lemos | Mimí Muñoz | Concha Gómez Conde | Mercedes Borqué | Luisa Gavasa | Coral Pellicer | Carmen Arévalo | Paco Catalá | Mariano Bardera | Carlos Marchi | Juan Debón | Francisco Maldonado | Jesús Fernández | Luisa Sala